Writer's Block

Do I really want to be a writer?  Or is this something you can choose for yourself?  Is the compulsion for self expression something you are born to do?  Or can I toss the idea of being a writer into the trash with all the drafts of my book?

When my writing is really good, in my opinion, is when my heart is in it, when I throw myself completely and totally into the topic.  Ideas flow, actually rage like a flooded stream during an Alaskan breakup.

However, after I have spent my emotions into a project, I start doubting if I can take the criticism that is necessary to move the project to the next level.  I have always been stumped at the editing level.  I didn't even make a showing at NaNoEdMo last March.

Can I allow my precious words to be ripped apart and reassembled as if the maid has come to change the linens on my bed?

That is the question.

Seeings that my blog is named Writer's Block, my eye latched right onto the title Hack your way out of writer's block.

Now if you know anything about me and computers, you know I couldn't hack my way out of a paper bag. However, I got a real chuckle out of his suggestion to

Listen to new music - Try something instrumental and rhythmic that you’ve never heard before. Put it on repeat, then stop fiddling with iTunes until your draft is done.

I can picture him fiddling with iTunes. I, on the other hand, never fiddle with iTunes.

By the way, Merlin Mann, the writer of 43 Folders is looking for someone to lend a hand with some Windows hacks.

I have been working on my book, Meandering Flooded Stream.  I intended to edit it during NaNoEdMo in March, but life was too busy to take out time to do non-essential tasks.  I am on Chapter 7 now.  The hardest part is knowing what the psychiatrist says to the patient.  Giving good advice is not as easy as it looks.

Beth Anderson has workshops on her site that are worth a read:

• Writing the Tight (Bare Bones) Synopsis
• Common Mistakes New Authors Make, and How to Fix Them Keep 'em Coming Back For More
• Whose Point of View IS That?

Beth is a crimewriter and has several book published.  I am not a crime reader so I don't have any first-hand experience with her work.

Jody contributed a link to our Alaskan Writer's group that has a script that makes form rejection letters.  There is a sense of humor to the letters, although the rejections are all too real.

Visit Anna Rae's site and play with the rejection letter generator scripts.

The first winter ascent of Mt. McKinley

I just finished reading a very good book. You can order it at Amazon.com. Epic is an audio cassette with "Stories of Survival from the World's Highest Peaks". Art Davidson who wrote Minus 148 is one of the contributors to the tape.

Well.... yesterday I was so close. My plot took a twist toward the end (that I did not plan) and came to a logical conclusion at 47,000 or so words. What to do? I can't very well quit there since I am doing this for NaNoWriMo.

There were a few characters mentioned only in one chapter in passing that I went back and made new chapters about them. Then I had a couple of short chapters that I elaborated on.

I kept writing yesterday until I just had to get ready to go to the hospital. I was hoping to reach the 50K and then have it validated before I left, but I ran out of time.

Today as I waited for my husband to pick me up at the hospital, I did quite a bit of people watching. Then I came right home and typed out those last 1600 words. I'm validated and I printed out my certificate.

Now I can go wash that goop out of my hair that they used for those little sensors they put on your head for the test. I didn't want to wash my hair at the hospital and then go out into the 10 degree weather with wet hair.

Now I have some first hand experience if any of my characters happen to go to the hospital.